Preserving user changes to a shared layered resource

One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media embodying logic that is operable when executed to:

• register a layering driver with an operating system, wherein the layering driver includes a layering file-filter driver;
• mount a first application layer, wherein the first application layer comprises a virtual disk containing one or more layered resources from one or more applications, and wherein the first application layer is shared between multiple users;
• load, by the layering file-filter driver, a file metadata for the first application layer;
• mount a layering write cache associated with the first application layer;
• receive, by the layering driver, one or more file operation requests directed to a layered resource of the one or more layered resources of the one or more applications;
• determine, for at least one file open request associated with the one or more file operations, that an instance of the layered resource is located in the layering write cache;
• redirect the at least one file open request to the layering write cache;
• and
• present to a user prioritized layered resources of the first application layer and the layering write cache in a merged view.

An information handling system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors being operable when executing the instructions to:
• register a layering driver with an operating system, wherein the layering driver includes a layering file-filter driver;
• mount a first application layer, wherein the first application layer comprises a virtual disk containing one or more layered resources from one or more applications, and wherein the first application layer is shared between multiple users;
• load, by the layering file-filter driver, a file metadata for the first application layer;
• mount a layering write cache associated with the first application layer;
• create for presentation to a user, by the layering driver, a merged view of prioritized layered resources of the first application layer and the layering write cache;
• receive, by the layering driver, one or more file operation requests directed to a layered resource of the one or more layered resources of the one or more applications;
• determine, for at least one file open request associated with the one or more file operations, that an instance of the layered resource is located in the layering write cache;
• and
• redirect the at least one file open request to the layering write cache.